Coffin-lowering apparatus.



- No. 684,872. Patented Oct.- 22, 190i.

D. J.. B. SABAZ|N.'

GDFFIN LOWEBING APPARATUS; (Application filed. Feb. 16 1 900. Renewed Mar. 16, 1901.)

(No Model.)-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DENIS JEAN-BAPTISTE SARAZIN, OF GHAILLY-EN-BRIE, FRANCE.

COFFlN-LOWERING APPARATUS.

srEoIrIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,872, dated. October 22,1901.

Application filed February 16, 1900. Renewed March 16g 1901; Serial No.'5l;532. (N model.)

To ctZZ what it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DENIs J EAN-BAPTISTE SARAZIN, a citizen of the Republic of France,

residing at Ohailly-en-Brie,Seine and Marne, in the Republic of France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Lowering Coffins into Graves, of which the following is a specification.

The nature and object of the invention will be fully understood from the following general description and the annexed drawings, and will be subsequently pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, which are hereby made a part of this specification, is a side view of my newly-invented device for'lowering coffins into graves. Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the same. Figs. 3 are at are views of details more fully hereinafter described.

a designates a frame, formed of two bars of U-shaped iron. These are held in place parallel to each other by cross-bars and supported by the posts 17, which may be placed one at either end of the grave. The two U- shaped bars form a support upon which rests and moves the carriage c. This carriage c is mounted on rollers d, by which it may be moved to adjust it in proper place, or this carriage may be secured in place by fastening the thumb-nuts e,,which" by means of bolts and the cross-bar f clamp the carriage c to the frame a. Upon this carriage c are mounted two hoisting-drums g, upon which are wound the ropes or straps i, provided with hooks, as hereinafter described. Integral with the drums g and g and mounted on the same shafts with them are the spur-wheels 7c and is, one meshing with the pinion Z and the other meshing with the pinion Z, which are mounted on suitable shafts m and m, having bearings in said frames. Between the two pinions l and Z is the pinion n, which meshes into both and is mountedon a shaft 0, having bearings in said frame. 7 The shaft 0, on which the pinion n is mounted, and the said pinion are so arranged and constructed that the pinion may be slipped in and out of engagement at pleasure. This is accomplished with a key and key-seat in the common and well-known way. All three of the shafts m, m, and 0 extend beyond the frame, and on their ends without the frame is formed a square shank to accommodate a crank. On the same shafts as the wheels la and k are mounted the ratchet-wheels r and r, which with their pawls prevent the wheels and k and their accompanying drums g and g from turning backward when they are used for raising a coffin.

To the lower ends of the ropes or straps i may be attached hooks of any approved form for lifting the coffin. In the example here given the hook is fastened by the loop t to the rope. On the rod 10, to which this loop is attached on its lower end, is formed the hook o, to which is pivoted the hook'o. Upon this rod to between the said loop and hook are placed the collar y and the spring 2'. On the collar 1 is formed the ring 2. The apparatus in use is to be mounted on a frame of boards placed on the ground around the grave.

To use my invention, the device is placed on a grave, as illustrated and described. The coffin is then placed over the grave in the usual way. The hooks 'u are then put in convenient rings, which have been attached to the top of the coffin, and pulled up a little, so as by the elasticity of the springzto bring the hook o and the collar y into the position illustrated in Fig. 4. Then by turning the crank on the shaft 0 the coffin maybe raised enough to swing clear, so that the boards or other supports on which it rested over the grave may be removed. The pawls s and s are taken out of engagement with the ratchets r and r and the crank turned slowly in the opposite direction. This gradually and evenly lowers the coffin into the grave. When it reaches the bottom and rests securely, the hooks may be released by pulling up the collar y by means of a wire or string which had been previously fastened in the ring ,2. If on any account it should be found desirable to use only one drum,jthis may be accomplished by slipping the pinion n out of engagement and shifting the crank from the shaft 0 to the pinion-shaft on the side to be used. Then the crank will only turn the pinion and drum on that side.

What I claim as my invention, and desire V to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a device for lowering coffins into graves, the combination with a frame as described,

wound on said drums and adapted to be attaohed to a coffin, and means for revolving said pinions Wheels and drums, all substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of January, A. D. 1900.

DENIS JEAN-BAPTISTE SARAZIN.

Witnesses:

ANTOINE LAVOIX, J. ALLISON BOWEN 

